forwarded from across the pond
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Carol Jackson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 5:00 AM
Subject: [ARCHIVES-NRA] Latest DPC Technology Watch Report - 'PDF should be
used to preserve information for the future'.
To: [log in to unmask]
***Apologies for cross postings***
PDF should be used to preserve information for the future
Good news the already popular PDF file format adopted by consumers and
business alike is one of the most logical formats to preserve today's
electronic information for tomorrow.
According to the latest report released today by the Digital Preservation
Coalition (DPC), Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the best file
formats to preserve electronic documents and ensure their survival for the
future. This announcement will allow information officers to follow a
standardised approach for preserving electronic documents.
Information management and long–term preservation are major issues facing
consumers and businesses in the 21st Century. This report is one of a
series where The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) aims to think about
and address the challenges facing us.
This report reviews PDF and the newly introduced PDF/Archive (PDF/A) format
as a potential solution to the problem of long–term digital preservation.
It suggests adopting PDF/A for archiving electronic documents' as the
standard will help preservation and retrieval in the future. It concludes
that it can only be done when combined with a comprehensive records
management programme and formally established records procedures.
Betsy Fanning, author of the report and director of standards at AIIM,
comments, "A standardised approach to preserving electronic documents would
be a welcome development for organisations. Without this we could be
walking blindly into a digital black hole."
The National Archives works closely with the DPC with issues surrounding
digital preservation and will continue to do so. Adrian Brown, head of
digital preservation at The National Archives said: "This report highlights
the challenges we all face in a digital age. Using PDF/A as a standard will
help information officers ensure that key business data survives. But it
should never be viewed as the Holy Grail. It is merely a tool in the armoury
of a well thought out records management policy. "
The report is a call to action, organisations need to act now and look hard
at their information policies and procedures to anticipate the demand for
their content (documents and records) in the future. Everybody has
different criteria, types and uses for documentation so you need to find one
that works for your organisation.
If you would like to read the full report please go to the Digital
Preservation Coalition website. This can be accessed here:
www.dpconline.org/graphics/reports/index.html#twr0802
For further information about:
· The National Archives please contact, Tim Matthews,
[log in to unmask], or 020 8392 5277.
· Digital Preservation Coalition please contact Frances Boyle,
[log in to unmask] or 01904 435 320
*About The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC)*
The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) is a cross-sector member
organisation established in 2001 to foster joint action to address the
urgent challenges of securing the preservation of digital resources in the
UK and to work with others internationally
For further information, see www.dpconline.org
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Carol Jackson
Administration and Events Manager
Digital Preservation Coalition
Innovation Centre
York Science Park
Heslington
YO10 5DG
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
tel: +44 (0) 1904 435 362
https: www.dpconline.org
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expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily
reflect those of the DPC, Registered Office, Innovation Centre, York Science
Park, Heslington, YORK YO10 5DG. Registered in England No: 4492292
**********************************************************************************************************************************
--
Peter Kurilecz CRM CA
[log in to unmask]
Richmond, Va
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